Mother’s Day Cox Monett Auxiliary fundraiser May 2

By Jessica Breger Special to the Monett Monthly

The Cox Monett Hospital Auxiliary bringing colorful bouquets to the Mother’s Day season with its eighth annual hanging basket sale.

The sale is the Auxiliary’s first large fundraiser of the year, offering approximately 100 hanging baskets of individually designed flower arrangements.

“We bring them in during early spring around Mother’s Day so people can purchase for their moms,” said Angela Long, with the Auxiliary’s volunteer services. 

The sale will take place on May 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cox Monett Hospital parking lot, located at 1000 Hwy. 60, and at the First State Bank parking lot, located at 106. E. Cleveland Ave. in Monett. 

“They’re nice big beautiful baskets, full bloom; and that money just goes right back into the hospital,” Long said.

Volunteer Chiqueta Beckett said as a great-grandmother, it always feels good when children show love and appreciation, and even more special when such gifts as flowers or homemade cards come from the grandchildren or great grandchildren.

Long said this is the time of year that people want to get out as the weather warms up, and people are looking for such a gift to give their moms near the Mother’s Day holiday. She said this has made the flower baskets one of the Auxiliary’s most productive fundraisers. 

“The Auxiliary is here to support the hospital in all of its missions,” Long said. “We raise money to buy vital things for the hospital like equipment and to support their patient care initiatives.”

In 2024, funds raised by the Auxiliary included programs such as Dying for Diabetes, CARDIAC Kids and Children’s Miracle Network. 

They also funded the purchases of specialized wheelchairs and equipment for cardiac rehabilitation and physical rehabilitation, table pads and shield for radiology and other needed equipment totaling over $32,000 just last year. 

This year, the Auxiliary has already dedicated $5,000 towards the Cox Monett Endowment Fund which helps maintain the equipment and facilities to ensure the hospital stays up to date. 

The Auxiliary has dedicated $5,000 for the next five years to the Endowment fund and is also planning to donate toward other facility upgrades. 

Also in 2025, approximately $14,000 of donations will go to completing an outdoor patient area at the Cox Monett Hospital. The project was initiated by Monett students in the GO CAPS program.

The projected completion of the project will be late spring or early summer of this year. 

Beckett said the hanging basket sale and other such fundraisers allow for community involvement helping both the hospital and fellow community members.

“The community comes to support this because they know the money is going back to the hospital, and it’s a little way they can help and support the hospital,” Beckett said.

Long added that with a small rural hospital, the Auxiliary feels blessed to have a community committed to keeping the hospital up to date.

Following the hanging basket sale, the Cox Monett Auxiliary is also looking towards their summer fundraiser, the annual salad luncheon, featuring classic vegetable salads, fruit salads, meat salads, and dessert salads. The event will also offer a cookbook of featured salads.

To support the Cox Monett Auxiliary, community members can either shop at the gift shop in the lobby of the Cox Monett Hospital or participate in the fundraising events.